Fireproof floor.



PATENTED JAN. 1s, 1903. H. MARING. PIREPROOP FLOOR.

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.27, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

PATENTED JAN.l 13, 1903.

E. MARING. PIREPROOP FLOOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 27, 1902.

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H0 MODEL.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Cri-FICE.

HERMANN MARING, OF DARIEN, CONNECTICUT.

FIREPROOF FLOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,267', dated January13, 1903.

Application led October 27,1902. Serial No. 128,985. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN MAKING, a citizen of the Empire of Germany,residing in Darien, in the county of Fairield and-State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Floors,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to certain improvements in reproof oorswhich are constructed of slabs or blocks that are inserted between thebeams of the floor, said slabs or blocks being provided withlongitudinalopening and reinforcing metallic skeleton frames ofconnected longitudinal and transverse portions in the lower half of eachslab or block, said transverse portions being shaped to conform to thegeneral contour of the openings in the blocks, as will be fullydescribed hereinafter and iinally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of a portionof my improved reproof floor. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. Sisa perspective view of one of the blocks shown in connection with thewire screen for protecting the base of thev Figs. 4, 6, and8 representverticalY beams. transverse sections through the blocks, showingcross-sections of different forms of openings and reinforcing metallicskeleton frames of the same. Figs. 5, 7, and 9 are vertical transversesections of the skeleton frames employed,respectively,in connection withthe blocks shownin Figs. 4., 6, andS; and Fig. l0 is a plan View of theskeleton frame for each block.

Similar letters of reference indica-te corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a block ernployed for my improvedfireprooffloor. The block is preferably made of cement'and isparallelepiped in form, with opposite oblique and obtuse corners, so asto be conveniently dropped between the I-beams of the floor. Each blockis provided with longitudinal openings a of hexagonal, round, octogonal,or other polygonal cross-section, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 4, 6,and 8, so as to diminish the weight of the block. In the upper and lowerportions of the block or solely in the upper portions, intermediate the'larger openings a, smaller openings a may be arranged,saidopeningsabeingformed by means of a mold provided with longitudinalsheetmetal tubes the cross-section of which correspends to the shape ofthe openings to be produced, which tubes are supported at the ends on asuitable bed-plate, so that the cement or other plastic material can befirmly rammed around the tubes in the mold, after which the tubes usedin the mold are withdrawn when the block has been formed and dried. Thelower half of each block is reinforced by means of a skeleton frame B,composed of connected longitudinal and transverse metal straps. Thetransverse straps b are bent into angular shape at regular intervals, soas to conform with the general contour of the openings a, the angularportions being disposed between the openings and having forked portionsb. The longitudinal straps b2 are supported in the forked position h' ofthe transverse straps b either loosely or by being sol dered orotherwise fastened thereto, as shown in Figs. 5, 7, 9, and l0. Thetransverse straps b, that are arranged at the ends of the prismic block,are inclined obliquely to the transverse straps, which are arranged atright angles with. .the longitudinal straps, so, as to reinforce theends of the block in the same manner as the Amiddle is reinforced by thetransverse skeleton frame B. This arrangement of the skeleton frame isshown in Fig. 10. The sheetmetal skeleton frames arranged in the lowerportion of each block impart the required degree of strength to thesame, so as to resist the tensile strains which may be exerted on thelower half of the block.

When making the blocks, a bottom layer of cement is first spread overthe bed-plate of the mold, after which the transverse skeleton framesare pressed into the mold and held in position by their longitudinalstraps. The tubes for the openings are then placed in position betweenthe skeleton frames, in proper relative position thereto, by beingsupported at the ends outside of the mold proper, after which the finalpouring in and ramming of the cement aroundthe skeleton frame andv tubesis accomplished until a block of the required height is obtained. Thetop is leveled off by a scraper and the tubes removed after the block issufliciently set. The cement holds the metallic skeleton frames firmlyin position, the latter imparting strength to the ICO body andresistance to the tensile strains that may be exerted upon it, and thusthe block can be readily completed in the factory and shipped to theplace where it is to be used. 'Ihe adjacent ends of the blocks arepreferably provided with grooves and tongues c, so that the blocksinterlock each other. The blocks are dropped into the I -beams in theusual manner and set up, triangular forms of blocks being used at theends, the ends of the blocks fitted upon the base of the I-beams bybeing formed with a recess c', and embedded in the ends are wire screensor aprons d, as shown in Figs. l and 3, which overlap below the base ofthe beam and serve to support the plaster or other fireproof materialfor protecting the base of the I-beanis. The wire screens or aprons dare inserted into the ends of the blocks while the same are formed inthe mold by molding a portion of the screen into the base of the block,as shown in Fig. 3.

My improved reproof' floor blocks are made comparatively light in weightby reason of the longitudinal openings formedin the same, so that acomparatively small quantity of cement is required for making the same,while owing to the transverse skeleton frames and their longitudinalconnecting straps great strength is imparted to the lower portion of theblocks at the points where tensile strength is required, while by thearrangement ofthe wire aprons an eective protection for the base of theI-beams is supplied.

Having thus described my in vention,I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. A slab or block for iireproof floors, coninsges?`sisting of a cement body provided with longitudinal openings, a metallicskeleton frame arranged below said openings in the lower portion of theblock, said frames having transverse portions approximately to the shapeof the cross-section of the lower openings, and longitudinal strapsconnecting said transverse portions, substantially as set forth.

2. A block for reproof Iioors, consisting of a body of cement providedwith larger longitudinal openings and smaller longitudinal openingsbetween the same, transverse metallic straps embedded in said blocksbelow the larger openings and corresponding in shape approximately tothe lower portion of the saine, said transverse straps being providedWith forked portions, and longitudinal straps attached to said forkedportion, and located in the solid portions between the openings,substantially as set forth.

3. A block for fireproof floors, consisting of a cement body providedwith longitudinal openings, a skeleton frame in the lower portion of theblock below and with raised an gular portions intermediately betweensaid openings, and wire screens or aprons inserted into the ends of theblocks for extending over the under side of the base of the I-beams ofthe floor, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN MARING.

Witnesses:

C. BRADWAY, HENRY J. SUHRBIER.

